Trip Hazards: The Liability of Uneven Sidewalk Panels

It starts as a small annoyance—a tree root pushing up a single slab of your sidewalk by half an inch. You step over it without thinking. But over a single summer, that half-inch becomes an inch and a half. Now, it’s not just an annoyance; it’s a weapon. It’s a toe-stubbing machine for your kids, a tripping hazard for the Amazon delivery driver, and a massive legal liability for you.

Uneven sidewalks are the most common cause of premises liability lawsuits in the United States. In Charlotte, where mature willow oaks line our older neighborhoods like Myers Park and Dilworth, root-lifted sidewalks are an epidemic.

Many homeowners ignore these hazards because they fear the solution. They imagine massive construction crews blocking their driveway for weeks. But at Charlotte Concrete Repair, we fix trip hazards surgically. We make your walkways safe, compliant, and attractive in hours, not days.

The ADA Standard: What Is A "Trip Hazard"?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a trip hazard as any vertical change in level of 1/4 inch or more. That is about the thickness of a standard iPhone.

• 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch: Must be beveled with a slope no steeper than 1:2.
• Over 1/2 inch: Must be removed or ramped with a slope no steeper than 1:12.

If your sidewalk has a ledge higher than 1/4 inch and someone trips and injures themselves, you (or your HOA) can be held negligent for failing to maintain safe premises.

Our 3-Tier Solution Protocol

We don't just rip everything out. We assess the severity of the lift and choose the least invasive, most cost-effective solution.

Level 1: Precision Grinding (The 1/4" to 1" Lift)

For smaller offsets, grinding is the fastest fix. But we don't just attack it with an angle grinder, leaving a jagged, ugly scar. We use horizontal scarifiers and dustless grinding machines.

We grind the high edge down to meet the low edge, creating a smooth, gentle ramp. Our equipment captures 99% of the concrete dust, so we don't coat your lawn or car in white powder. The result is a smooth, textured surface that is safe to walk on immediately.

Level 2: Foam Lifting (The Sinking Slab)

Sometimes the problem isn't that one slab went UP (roots), but that the other slab went DOWN (settling). If a slab has sunk, grinding the high side is a mistake—you're just making the whole sidewalk lower.

In this case, we use Poly-Leveling. We drill penny-sized holes in the low slab, inject expanding foam, and lift it back up to match the high slab perfectly. This fixes the trip hazard without removing any concrete.

Level 3: Sectional Replacement (The Root Heave)

When a massive tree root has lifted a slab 3 or 4 inches, grinding isn't enough (you'd grind through the whole slab) and lifting won't work (the tree is too strong). This requires Surgical Sectional Replacement.

This is our specialty. We cut out only the lifted panel. We excavate the soil to expose the offending root. We carefully prune the root (or bridge over it if it's critical to the tree's health) and pour a new panel. We use dowels to lock the new panel to the adjacent ones, ensuring they stay flush even if the ground moves again.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

The average cost to grind a trip hazard is $150-$300. The average cost to replace a single sidewalk panel is $400-$800.

The average settlement for a slip-and-fall injury lawsuit is over $30,000.

Fixing your sidewalk isn't just a cosmetic improvement. It is the cheapest insurance policy you will ever buy.

Conclusion

Walk out to your sidewalk today. Look at the joints. If you see a ledge, kick it with your toe. If your toe catches, it's a hazard. Don't wait for a twisted ankle or a letter from a lawyer. Call Charlotte Concrete Repair. We can often make your sidewalk safe the very same day you call.